Thursday, 5 November 2015

The APSM, Association of
Pharmaceutical Specials Manufacturers, is reminding pharmacists of the
importance of 24 hour turnaround for bespoke Specials prescriptions. All APSM members sign up to a commitment of
timely delivery to patients1 and for all members that now means next
day delivery as standard. Members report that between 95-99% of orders are
despatched the same day of receipt for delivery the following.

Said, APSM Chair Sharon
Griffith, “What may have started as an effort to offer competitive advantage –
we’re happy to say is now the norm amongst APSM members which is good news for
patients. Patients who are prescribed Specials often
have a specific and urgent clinical need - they should not have to wait for
this medicine just because it isn’t a licensed or off the shelf preparation.”

Although Specials
manufacturers are geared towards bespoke manufacture it can still present a challenge. With more than 20,000 potential preparations
on our systems – we can’t predict what’s coming or think ‘we’ll save it and
make a batch next week’. An order is
received, it is manufactured, goes through QA and is despatched all within 24
hours. For a typical Specials
manufacturer this can mean 500 different orders a day – and of course the
inherent costs associated with express delivery costs and maintaining a high
level of manufacturing capacity so that orders can always be fulfilled.

As ongoing medicine
supply shortages result in longer waits for prescriptions, APSM is reassuring pharmacists
that Specials manufacturers are continuing to meet patient need on a daily
basis – 365 days a year. Continuity of
supply is being maintained in spite of the fact that Specials are unusual and
account for less than 1% of all prescriptions annually.

Said, Sharon, “We are
committed to maintaining a sustainable manufacturing base for Specials in the
UK and in spite of increased commercial pressure our APSM members have
continued to invest in high quality infrastructure and processes. In the last 5 years our members have
collectively invested over £100m in
service improvements – which is more than the value of the Specials market.

1. Members will at all times act in the interests of customers and ultimately patients with respect to the timely preparation and supply of Special medicines. It is recognised that members frequently supply on an urgent basis and will protocols and standards to supply in accordance with such timelines.